Media Misconceptions about Surrogacy

Celebrity surrogacy stories have made the topic a recurring headline — from Kim Kardashian and Kanye West to Andy Cohen, Tig Notaro, Gabrielle Union, and Dwayne Wade, more public figures are openly discussing how they grew their families with the help of a gestational surrogate. As more intended parents (IPs) explore this path, surrogacy is becoming more visible — and so are the questions about what it actually looks like in practice.

Surrogacy can be a meaningful option for families who need a different path to parenthood. But mainstream coverage tends to oversimplify key steps, blur important distinctions, or spotlight rare situations as if they’re the norm.

Below are some of the most common misconceptions about surrogacy — and the practical reality behind them.

Schedule A Consultation

What the Media Gets Wrong About Surrogacy and Finding a Surrogate Mother

Here are some examples of times the media were wrong when discussing surrogacy and how it works:

1. Not talking about the happy families made through surrogacy

Surrogates, intended parents, and the babies welcomed into this world are all real people. A lot of people have added a new member to their families through surrogacy and are happy with the outcomes.

However, the media focuses more on the occasional sad-ending surrogacy journey or one where things don’t work out as the IPs had planned. Articles discussing the dangers of surrogacy are misleading to a common person. Moreover, parents who are proud of their wonderful families created through surrogacy with the help of a gestational surrogate, also find it hurtful.

2. Sensationalizing tragedy rather than making a positive impact 

We expect journalists to report things as they really are. So, it’s heartbreaking each time we read in the newspaper that a certain family was unable to take the surrogacy baby back to their home country after his/her birth. It is also heartbreaking when we find incidents where a gestational surrogate doesn’t want to give the baby to the rightful Parents after childbirth.

Of course, we are not saying that all of these stories are untrue. But we think they could be used as an opportunity to teach hopeful parents, as well as other people, about surrogacy and why it’s important to do research. We advise all our IPs, egg donors, and surrogate mothers to investigate all the available options.

Also, learn about the prospective surrogacy agencies before making a decision. Research is undoubtedly one of the most important steps in the process of commencing a surrogacy journey. It is a fact that mainstream media tends to overlook. Instead, they focus on the heartbreaking stories where little to no research took place before the surrogacy contract was signed. Unfortunately, those journeys rarely end well. 

Imagine if each article about a tragic surrogacy story talked about how a lot of families have undergone successful, wonderful journeys. Maybe changes would occur, like a call for insurance firms to cover certain aspects of surrogacy. That would make surrogacy financially accessible to thousands of hopeful couples who are unable to have babies on their own and can’t afford the cost of surrogacy.

3. Not discussing the real motivations women find to become a Surrogate

Many articles don’t talk about the selflessness behind the decision to become a surrogate. The women who choose to become surrogates with Physician Surrogacy (PS), the best surrogacy agency in San Diego, are simply amazing.

The media only tends to focus on the compensation received by the surrogates. However, there are a lot of steps between considering becoming a gestational carrier and finding a match with intended parents to become a surrogate mother.

Most of the women who arrived at this selfless decision are motivated by personal experiences. They found the inspiration when they saw someone close struggling to get pregnant. Some women even choose to become a Surrogate to help members of the LGBT community. 

4. Not mentioning the importance of the screening process to find a Surrogate Mother

It’s better to work with an agency partly because of their strict surrogate screening process. A lot of factors go into it before admitting a surrogate into agency surrogacy programs.

And, the media seems to forget that every agency is different. At PS, the nation’s only OB-managed surrogacy agency, we evaluate each applicant thoroughly before moving forward — including:

• Background and support system
• Physical health and OB history
• Mental health and psychological readiness
• Financial stability
• Motivation for becoming a surrogate

This is part of why media stories can paint a distorted picture when they discuss complications without also explaining the screening standards and medical requirements that responsible programs use to reduce avoidable risk.

Additionally, fertility clinics set stringent requirements for surrogates to ensure the health and well-being of the gestational carrier. Stories paint a distorted reality when they talk about complications that occurred during pregnancy without telling readers that the Surrogate wouldn’t have met basic agency requirements. 

5. Reporting traditional surrogacy as if it is the standard 

Traditional surrogacy – a surrogacy arrangement in which the gestational carrier conceives through artificial insemination. She donates her own biological material in the process. It used to be the standard more than ten years ago. Nowadays, only a few agencies carry out traditional surrogacy. Today, most IPs find the surrogacy process involving a gestational surrogate much more preferable, as the carrier is not genetically related to the baby.

Articles talking about traditional surrogacy don’t usually tell the difference. Moreover, they hardly let readers know how rare this type of arrangement has become, and report traditional surrogacy more often. TV shows, such as The Handmaid’s Tale, try to show people what forced traditional surrogacy is like, and this is some people’s first exposure to surrogacy.

This creates a negative impression of what surrogacy is! Moreover, it paints a wrong picture of the whole surrogacy industry in the minds of Intended Parents. Although TV shows like Superstore have a more lighthearted tone, they show traditional surrogacy between friends. But we need to remember that this rarely occurs in the surrogacy industry.

6. Reporting on independent surrogacies as if they’re the standard 

Independent surrogacy arrangements can also go as planned. However, a lot of Intended Parents and Surrogates prefer to work with an agency. It makes sure they have protection measures every single step of the way.

Hopeful parents usually choose to work with a surrogacy agency to protect themselves emotionally and legally from the various complicated processes. To name a few, the matching process, embryo transfer, conception, delivery, and taking the baby home after birth. Moreover, agencies ensure that surrogate health requirements are fulfilled.

Independent surrogacies are not as common as agency-assisted surrogacies. Still, the media usually covers stories of independent surrogacy. This generates a wrong impression that getting a Surrogate Mother via online ads or referrals is the norm. 

7. Using “distasteful” language regarding Surrogacy and Surrogate Mothers

Some headlines use words such as “womb for rent” or call gestational surrogates “breeders.” This hurtful language is not only disrespectful but also inconsiderate to these wonderful women. Surrogates are selfless, compassionate women who choose to help other families actualize their dreams of having children. 

These media reports presume that these women become Surrogates only for the money or that they have misinformation about the whole surrogacy process. The fact is, surrogacy agencies don’t allow women to become surrogates if they are financially unstable. Moreover, women who want to become surrogates do thorough research before proceeding.

8. You need a “celebrity surrogacy agency” to get privacy, discretion, and a well-managed process

People often search for some version of “what surrogacy agency do celebrities use” or “what surrogacy agencies are popular among celebrities.” It’s a reasonable instinct — if a high-profile family trusted a program with something this personal, that must be a meaningful signal of quality.

The reality is that this question rarely has a clear, verifiable answer — and that’s largely by design. Many high-profile families work under strict confidentiality arrangements, and agencies typically don’t confirm client relationships. When celebrities do speak publicly about surrogacy, the specific details about who they worked with are often absent or inconsistent. “Popular among celebrities” is largely a media narrative rather than a documented list, which makes it an unreliable filter for choosing care for your own family.

For context on what some public figures have shared about their experiences, celebrity surrogacy stories can be useful — but they’re best read as personal accounts, not agency endorsements.

What high-profile families look for — and what any family should ask about

The qualities that make a surrogacy agency genuinely trustworthy are the same regardless of who the client is. Families who want a discreet, medically sound, and legally protected journey tend to prioritize:

• Confidentiality practices — Clear policies on privacy, secure communication, and who can access case information
• Consistent screening standards — Medical and psychological readiness, background review, and support system evaluation
• Medical oversight at key decision points — Clinical involvement so that issues are identified early, not after the fact
• Legal coordination — Working with experienced reproductive attorneys and ensuring contracts are in place before medical steps begin
• Financial safeguards — Transparent, itemized fees and written policies for common scenarios like delays or rematch
• Case management and communication — A consistent point of contact and clear protocols for when plans change

Before selecting an agency, ask these questions directly:

1. What are your confidentiality and privacy practices — and what’s available in writing?
2. Walk me through your surrogate screening process: what’s evaluated, when, and by whom?
3. How do you coordinate between the medical team, legal counsel, and our case manager?
4. What does your “match timeline” actually mean — and what factors most commonly affect it?
5. Can I see a complete, itemized fee schedule and written policies for delays, rematch, or changes in plans?

For a detailed framework on what to look for in a surrogacy agency, Physician’s Surrogacy has published a full breakdown of the criteria that matter most.

Conclusion

Want to learn how the surrogacy process can help you become parents and complete your family? Are you trying to find a perfect match in your surrogate mother? Please reach out to Physician’s Surrogacy and schedule a complimentary consultation.

Schedule A Consultation